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Your safari guide to South Africa! Best time to travel

It is often complex to answer questions like “When is the best time to go to South Africa?” The decision largely depends on what you plan to seek in a vast country like South Africa. Whether it is tour the Wine lands, visit Cape town, see wild flowers, spend some time on the beach, hiking the Drakensberg, surf or involve in other great activities that the country offer, the purpose of the visit needs to be cleared on these grounds. However knowing something about the favorable months, climatic conditions and weather always helps.
The seasons in South Africa can be clearly distinguished into four prominent categories, it goes as such:

Spring - September & October.

Summer - November to February.

Autumn - March & April.

Winter - June – August.

As South Africa is situated in the southern hemisphere, the seasons here are reverse to those in the northern hemisphere. However, depending on how you plan to tour the place, it’s worth paying attention to the clime.

Summer

Summers are accompanied by heavy downpour and thunder storms, which may last from days to just few 20 minutes. The maximum average temperature at this time is 27-38°C,varying from location to location. As a result of the summer rains and associated warm and sunny weather, the vegetation is thick and green. This is a great safari time for those who seeks to see the African bush at its greenest. This is also a time when ornithologists come for bird watching. The clear bright sky is full with a riot of bright color. The birdlife is indeed at its best.
This is also the calving season for antelope species, with herds of them becoming a common view during safari. However there is a negative for those indulging in safari rides, as the surface area is scattered with water, game movement becomes less compared to winter as animals need not travel the long distance to drink water at the traditional permanent water holes and rivers.

Autumn

By the end of autumn the region turns into shades of yellow and brown. Temperatures are between 5-18°C, with night temperatures almost dropping to zero on most days. By winter it’s snowy in many places. Trees and shrubs lose their leaves, vegetation becomes sparse and surface water in many places dries up, bringing out game from their respective holes.

Winter

Winter (June to September) is cool and dry, ideal for hiking and outdoor pursuits. Vegetation is less dense, making it the best time for wildlife watching. Safari’s are common at this time of the year. In the eastern Highveld, nights are cool and crisp with occasional frost. It is advisable to go prepared with a jacket or warm clothes.
The winter rainfall region to the Western Cape and Garden Route are still green but less so during summer. The rains come here from the cold fronts that sweep from the southern region, bringing rain along with cold and wind. These are described as “champagne days” as the days are crystal clear with clear blue skies.

Spring

Spring brings back everything to life. The chill is almost gone and days become brighter and sunnier. The bare trees sprouts leaves and vegetation becomes green again. The cultural hubs, shopping malls, and other historical sites are the most crowded at this time of the year.